Mental Health Resources

Mental health resources

Websites

The National Alliance of Mental Illness. Find essential information and resources intended to help people, including kids, teens and young adults, get the mental health support they need.

The American Psychological Association. Learn why children’s mental health matters, the prevalence of mental health disorders in children, the benefits of psychology, how to find a psychologist and more.

National Institute of Mental Health. Find a variety of evidence-based information about mental health topics as well as the latest about research in the mental health field.

World Health Organization. Find fact sheets about mental health disorders in adolescents, including emotional, behavioral and eating-related disorders.

Seattle Children’s. Find specific information about mental health conditions, types of therapy, treatment groups and more.

Kids’ Mental Health Washington. Supporting the behavioral health needs of Washington kids, youth and families. Access the Community Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) intake form here.

Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities National Training Center. Find accessible training content that centers around the needs and voices of individuals with disabilities.

Akin. Akin is the product of the 2024 merger between two of Washington state’s most impactful family services organizations, Childhaven and Children’s Home Society of Washington.

Service provider list for King County. View a list of providers serving youth in King County.

Fairfax Behavioral Health. Helpful resources to adults and teens in the Seattle metropolitan community suffering from a mental health crisis.

Tools and information for teens

Who can I talk to about my mental health? This article by Mental Health America explores how teens can reach out to others to improve their mental health.

Youth Mental Health Test. Take this quick online test from Mental Health America to find out if you’re experiencing mental health challenges. Please note the results are not diagnostic but meant to support you in seeking help if necessary.  Explore MHA’s additional free screening tools.

My Life Is Worth Living. This animated series about mental health struggles is available on YouTube. Topics include bullying, depression, abuse, discrimination and trauma.

Teening Your Parent. A PDF for teens that discusses common developmental challenges during adolescence and ways to cope with them.

Digging Deep with Journaling. Printable journal prompts from UW Medicine Valley Medical Center allow older children and teens to explore their emotions. Spanish version

LGBTQ+ support. The Trevor Project offers resources, support and community for LGBTQ+ teens and young adults.

Anxiety and stress

Coping with stress. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information about how stress affects the body and healthy ways for coping with stress.

Parenting anxious kids. The Child Mind Institute provides details on how to parent anxious kids, including how to help manage fears and calm anxiety.

Helping your child through common fears. This article from UW Medicine Valley Medical Center offers tips on how to help young children navigate common fears and how to talk to them about their mental health.

Headaches? Nausea? It could be stress. In this MultiCare Health System article, learn about the physical effects of stress on the body and how to cope.

Depression and grief

Does social media use cause depression? This article from Child Mind Institute discusses the connection between internet use and depression and how to minimize negative effects of social media use.

What are the symptoms of depression in teenagers? This article from Child Mind Institute outlines signs your child might be more than just a moody teen.

Wild Grief. This nonprofit based in Olympia, Washington, provides free outdoor experiences to teens, young adults, families and others experiencing grief.

Parent Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

Learn about Parent Child Interaction Therapy. PCIT is an evidence-based treatment for young children with behavioral problems.

Find a PCIT therapist near you. Review a list of Parent Child Interaction Therapists near you.

Substance abuse

Substance use support. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) website provides resources for people who need support for substance use or mental health concerns. Resources include helplines, information about how to cope and more.

Understanding substance use. The organization Mental Health Literacy provides information about what substance use is, how it exists on a continuum and what people can do about substance use concerns.

Suicide prevention and self-harm

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This helpline is free, confidential and available to all for 24/7 support. Services available in English and Spanish as well as for those who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Teens and suicide: What parents should know. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers information about risk factors, warning signs and prevention.

DocTalk (YouTube series). Kari Tanta, PhD, manager of Mary Bridge Children’s Services, discusses ways to recognize and prevent suicide in children and teens.

Know the Signs. This website, part of the Take Action for Mental Health Campaign, shares information about the signs of suicide and how to talk to loved ones about it. Getting the conversation started could help save a life.

Suicide Prevention Tips for Teens. Created by the University of Washington Forefront Suicide Prevention program, this PDF details how to help teens who may be thinking of suicide.

A Friend Asks app. Created by the Jason Foundation, this free smartphone app provides information, tools and resources to help a friend who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide.

Now Matters Now. This website, associated with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, offers effective ways to cope with difficult emotions and address suicidal thoughts.

Understanding self-injury/self-harm. The organization Mental Health Literacy helps families understand non-suicidal self-injury (also known as self-harm) among children and teens.

Traumatic events

Coping resources in response to a mass violence event. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network offers resources for children, families and communities on how to cope with traumatic events. Review this fact sheet to learn how to help youth following a mass shooting.

The Disaster Distress Helpline. This national hotline provides disaster crisis counseling. Offering multilingual services, it’s available to all residents in the U.S. and its territories who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.

Resources to help youth cope after a mass shooting. Youth.gov offers a comprehensive list of resources for how to cope following mass shootings and other violent events.

Children’s Advocacy Center of Pierce County. When child abuse is disclosed, you may wonder where to turn, how the legal process works and how your family will be supported during an investigation. The Children’s Advocacy Center of Pierce County provides a child-focused, safe place for families to get help.

Support groups

Grief support for suicide loss survivors. The organization Suicide Awareness Voices of Education offers up-to-date lists of support groups as well as other grief support resources for those who have lost friends or loved ones to suicide.

Supporting Parents of Autism (SPA). Led by mental health counselors, this support group is designed for parents who have children with autism. Join parents virtually as they share experiences and build community.

CHADD Affilitate Locator. Find a an ADHD support group near you. Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) has affiliate groups nationwide.